Early the next morning, Talon headed to the guild branch in Bluefeather City. It was a large building, with architecture that proclaimed the grandiose of the Aurumia kingdom. It had many tall, colorful, translucent windows. There were no guards around, but hundreds of people entered and left the place, creating a bustling atmosphere. Tall opaque crystal boards hung on the northern wall, with words flickering in and out of existence. As a mission was completed, it vanished from the board. Whenever a new mission was available, the content appeared on the board as well. Talon was flabbergasted; this was far more impressive than the chalk and board used by the small guild branch in Eryndor.The general hall of the guild building was buzzing with conversations, people calling out here and there, trying to rally others to join a team with them, and so on. It was like a raucous marketplace.Talon was soon face-to-face with one of the dozen attendants stationed in the general
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The mission board hummed faintly as Talon stood before the crystal screens. Tasks blinked in and out of existence with a mechanical rhythm, their details fleeting yet daunting. He squinted at one particularly lucrative mission—escorting a merchant caravan through bandit territory. It was a risk, the type of challenge that would’ve been a death sentence just days ago. His gaze lingered on it, a shadow of doubt curling around his thoughts.A goblin raid had been manageable. He’d proven that. But those creatures were only a step above the beasts in the wild, their cunning no match for true monsters or, worse, human brigands.“If only I had a teacher…” The words slipped out before he realized. He sighed, shaking his head at the childish wish. Across the kingdom, academies catered to professions like the Winged Tamers, where students learned to bond with animals, or the Forgecallers, who crafted magic weapons. But those institutions were reserved for the elite or those with obvious gifts. A
The mission board hummed faintly as Talon stood before the crystal screens. Tasks blinked in and out of existence with a mechanical rhythm, their details fleeting yet daunting. He squinted at one particularly lucrative mission—escorting a merchant caravan through bandit territory. It was a risk, the type of challenge that would’ve been a death sentence just days ago. His gaze lingered on it, a shadow of doubt curling around his thoughts.A goblin raid had been manageable. He’d proven that. But those creatures were only a step above the beasts in the wild, their cunning no match for true monsters or, worse, human brigands.“If only I had a teacher…” The words slipped out before he realized. He sighed, shaking his head at the childish wish. Across the kingdom, academies catered to professions like the Winged Tamers, where students learned to bond with animals, or the Forgecallers, who crafted magic weapons. But those institutions were reserved for the elite or those with obvious gifts. A
“You made it,” Magnus said, his voice carrying across the courtyard. “Good. Let’s see if you’re as sharp as you seem.”The other recruits turned to size him up, some with curiosity, others with disdain. Talon straightened his back, meeting Magnus’s gaze with quiet resolve.Magnus clapped his hands, drawing the recruits’ attention. “Listen up! The tryouts begin now. The Blue Devils are more than just a team of adventurers—we’re a unit, a family. That means trust and discipline are our cornerstones. Today’s tests will evaluate not only your skills but also your loyalty and your ability to follow orders.”A murmur rippled through the group as Magnus’s words sank in. Talon caught snippets of whispers—words like
Talon watched, breath held, as the boar sent another recruit flying through the air. The unfortunate man’s scream was cut short by a sickening crunch as he landed. Blood painted the grass in a dark, spreading stain, sending a ripple of hesitation through the group. Some recruits staggered back, their resolve crumbling at the sight of the monster’s brutal power.In their eyes, Talon saw the seeds of panic taking root. A few glanced toward the edges of the field, clearly contemplating escape.Talon’s hands tightened on his weapon, his feet itching to turn and run. Jefor’s commands had done little to reassure anyone, the man’s gruff orders seeming more like a death march than a strategy.Then it clicked.Reaching out with his Mind Hunter
The sun had barely risen when Talon arrived at the Blue Devils’ base. The two-story building was an imposing structure just a few streets away from the Adventurers Guild. Its stone façade bore the guild’s emblem—a blue devil’s horned visage encircled by a blazing flame.Inside, the atmosphere was lively. Recruits and seasoned members alike filled the hall, their voices blending into a chaotic hum. Some huddled over maps spread across tables, while others sharpened weapons or adjusted armor.Talon approached the main desk, where a stern-looking woman in leather armor handed him a slip of parchment. “You’re in Team One,” she said briskly, pointing toward a group gathered near the far wall.He nodded and made his way over, his heart skipping slightly as he recognized Magnus standing at the center of the group.Although younger than some of the guild’s elites, Magnus’s presence was still commanding, his azure hair catching the morning light streaming through the windows. Around him were s
They reached a clearing where the dirt road split into two paths. Magnus raised a hand, signaling for the team to halt.“We’ll split here,” he said, his voice cutting through the rustling leaves. He pointed to Merisa and Orthur. “Take the left trail and scout the area. Look for signs of monster activity—tracks, nests, anything unusual. Talon, you’re with me on the right trail.”Talon nodded, stepping into place beside Magnus as the others dispersed. The forest grew denser as they moved, the light fading into a muted green. The quiet was unnerving, broken only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a bird.Magnus tilted his head slightly, his sharp eyes scanning the undergrowth. “Nervous?” he asked, his tone light but probing.Talon hesitated before answering. “A little,” he admitted. “This is my first real mission with a guild.”Magnus chuckled softly. “You’ll get used to it. Everyone feels that way their first time. Just keep your wits about you.”Talon nodded with
Vaila lay on the altar, staring blankly at the stone ceiling as Janice moved her hands slowly over her body. A soft, bluish light glowed from Janice’s palms, tracing over Vaila like a searchlight uncovering hidden truths.Janice let out a quiet sigh. “It’s worse than I thought,” she murmured, her voice tinged with regret.Vaila turned her head, eyes wide. “So you can’t help me?” Her chest tightened, the faint hope she had clung to starting to crumble. She hadn’t allowed herself to dream of a miracle, but Janice’s earlier confidence had given her a sliver of optimism. Now, it felt like it was slipping away.“I can help,” Janice said, hesitating. “But not as easily as I’d hoped. Your condition is... unique.”Vaila sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the altar. “Unique?” she asked, her voice trembling. “What does that mean?”Janice offered a sympathetic smile, brushing a lock of white hair from Vaila’s face. “It means you’re special. Extremely rare, actually. Your condition stems
“Talia,” Luth called out happily.Talia Silverwing, Vice Captain of the Red Angels and Luth Silverwing’s older sister. She was known as War Angel, and was someone spoken of in the same breath as Selina Featherborne, Magnus Aerendel, and other powerful Warrior level Awakened. Behind her were four other members of the Red Angels, two men and women, each dressed like an adventurer, and each was a popular member of the Red Angel Guild. Luth ran to Talia’s side and quickly explained what was going on, causing Talia to frown in disgust, her colleagues also showed various emotions. “Your Eminence,” Talia stood in front of the opened carriage, facing Bishop Vicenzo face to face. “It seems you have a friend of ours in your retinue, may we take her with us?”Vicenzo had a genial smile at all times, but in her heart, he felt like he was bleeding. ‘Why did this b*tch get involved?’The Silverwings were powerful, apart from being a noble family, their family also had several Warriors, Squires,
The winding paths and towering buildings of the inner city left Vaila in awe. She craned her neck to take in the intricate architecture, her crimson eyes sparkling with wonder.“Why are all the houses so tall?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.Castor walked beside her, chuckling at her amazement. “The inner city’s space has always been limited, and expanding outward is expensive. Instead, the city planners decided to build upward. Most of these structures are older than both of us put together.”“That’s incredible…” Vaila trailed off, staring at the stone facades, each etched with carvings and ornate details.“They’ve also reserved the villas for visiting nobles, ambassadors, and dignitaries,” Castor continued, gesturing toward the luxurious mansions dotting the horizon. “Apart from the Duke’s palace, his family’s estate, and housing for high-ranking officials, almost no one lives here permanently.”As they passed rows of two-story shops, Castor pointed them out. “Those are
Vaila and Castor made their way back toward the inn, her basket now filled with the few essentials she had managed to buy. The streets were busy as always, with merchants shouting to advertise their goods and children running between stalls, laughter echoing.Suddenly, the sharp crack of a whip cut through the air, followed by a woman’s scream.“Get out of the way, you damn peasants!” A guard’s voice bellowed, full of authority and disdain.The chaos that followed was instant. People scrambled to clear the road as a dozen mounted Holy Knights galloped through the street, their white robes and gleaming steel armor making them impossible to miss. The emblem of rolling hills and wheat ears marked their allegiance to the Holy Mother Church.Though they were called Holy Knights, they weren’t Awakened. They were regular men, hired muscle glorified by the church’s title.Vaila and Castor, caught off guard, were too slow to react. A whip lashed out, narrowly missing Vaila as Castor pushed her
As the storm raged in the Mental Plane, Talon watched in panic as a fork of lightning arced toward his mind island.“Yes! Yes! Take the Karma!” he shouted desperately, hands shaking.— Processing…The lightning slammed into an invisible barrier above his island and dissolved into harmless sparks.— Karma balance sufficient. Wish granted.A deafening thunderclap shook the entire plane, followed by a blinding golden light slicing through the tsunami surrounding his mind island. Talon shielded his eyes, but through his fingers, he caught glimpses of the surreal figures hidden in the storm—the Neophages. The light touched them, and they dissolved, fleeing or disintegrating in an instant.“What the…?” Talon stammered, lowering his arm.— Neophages eradicated.The sky cleared as the chaotic sea settled. Peace returned to the Mental Plane.A notification popped into his mind, accompanied by the familiar chime:[Notice: -20 Karma. -5000 System Coins.]“What?!” Talon’s jaw dropped. “Coins too?
Talon’s body may have been unconscious, but his mind was wide awake, trapped on his storm-battered mind island.The sky above churned with dark clouds, and the surrounding sea roared with relentless waves. Nearby mind islands had vanished, swallowed by the chaotic waters of the Mental Plane. It didn’t take long for Talon to realize the storm was centered on him.“What’s happening?” he muttered, his voice barely audible over the crashing waves.The swirling chaos made him uneasy, like the Mental Plane itself wanted to wipe his mind island off the map. The question gnawed at him: Why?“System!” he called, hoping for a lifeline.To his surprise, the familiar synthetic voice responded.— Yes.Relief flooded through him. “What’s going on? Please, I need help!”— Analysis in progress. Please wait.Above his island, the storm intensified, forming abstract, shifting shapes within the clouds. They looked like fragments of corrupted data—fractals twisting and glitching, impossible to comprehend
Talon reviewed the new system notifications, his mind racing.[Major Quest: Perfect Rating Achieved.][Extra Rewards: Doubled completion rewards. Several heroes have perished attempting this feat. Proceed with caution.]It was his first time getting a completion rating, and seeing the word "Perfect" made him grin despite his exhaustion. Sure, he’d narrowly escaped death, but the rewards were worth it.A quick glance at his dashboard confirmed it: more system coins, karma points, and fortune tickets than he’d ever had. For a moment, pride swelled in his chest. He’d earned this.But the notifications weren’t finished.[Ding! Remaining Wild Pastors (2/4).] [Ding! Remaining Wild Pastors (3/4).]Talon froze. “What the...? Are they cleaning up shop without me? I can’t even get a crumb!”His irritation flared, but there was no time to sulk. He still held Orthur’s unconscious form in the mental plane. Just as he wondered what to do, Orthur’s body shimmered and disappeared.“What…?” Talon spu
When Talon opened his eyes, he wasn’t on the mind island anymore. Instead, he stood inside a dark, cavernous space. The air was damp, thick with the smell of blood and burning herbs. Lit torches flickered, casting jagged shadows on the stone walls as if the darkness itself was alive.He scanned the room quickly, his eyes drawn to a large altar in the center. It was soaked in dried blood and surrounded by crushed herbs and strange markings, runes carved deep into the stone floor. Two black candles burned on the altar, their flames swaying unnaturally.As Talon stared at the candles, unease crawled over him. Bulges formed across their surface; faces, human faces, pressing outward like they were trying to escape. They twisted and pushed, their silent screams forming grotesque shapes in the wax.‘What the hell is this place?’ Talon thought, his breath shallow.He reminded himself that this was just a memory. It had to be. But that didn’t stop the goosebumps rising across his arms.A figur
Axormus, the Wild Pastor, gritted his teeth as he darted through the ground like a living drill. Brythan’s relentless attacks were tearing through everything around him, leaving him no time to stop or even think. Every time he swapped positions with an unlucky animal using Position Swap, it bought him a second or two—but Brythan’s blades always followed.Above ground, Brythan laughed, standing calmly in the air on a floating broadsword. “Run all you want!” he called out. His voice carried over the battlefield. “You won’t escape me.”With his Wayfarer abilities, Brythan had already marked Axormus with coordinate tags. It didn’t matter how deep the Wild Pastor ran or where he swapped himself to. The moment he stopped moving, Brythan would be there.The air around Brythan shimmered again, and this time dozens of knives shot into the ground through an invisible portal.Beneath the earth, Axormus froze for half a second as the blades appeared—surrounding him, hovering in the dark.‘What?!’